Eco-Inspiration 1

The tip of South Africa, summer 2008.

I know from experience, as I know many others do, that sometimes it can all seem like too much. We have so many demands on our time. Work, school, relationships. When do I have time to make a difference? Do I have the energy and means to make the lifestyle changes necessary to bring my actions in line with my values? The answer a lot of the time, for me at least, is no. I do not have time to do everything that I feel I should be doing. I can’t do it all. I’m not perfect. And, as I so often try and remind myself, no one is really expecting me to be. The best we can do for today, is our best. And on days when I’m feeling like it’s all too much, like my small efforts will never amount to anything, I think of this quotation which was shared with me by my first mentor in ecology:

“One final paragraph of advice:do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am — a reluctant enthusiast… a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure.It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much;I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.” ~Edward Abbey*

FINAL WORD: Let this be your eco-inspiration as you reach the middle of your work/school week. Eat your lunch outside today, or take a short walk on your break. Marvel a little why don’t ya’.

Floating the Green River, KY. Beauty in my own backyard.

What do you think? Do you ever feel overwhelmed or burnt out when trying to do the right thing? Do you take enough time to actually enjoy nature? Do you love Edward Abbey? *Emphasis is mine.